The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-11-11

Berwick Independent Friday. Nov.
our borough was thrown into a state Of
excitement last evening by murder hav-
ing been committed within its borders. II
was a case OF tramps, had whiskey, and fire.
arms and with such combination IL is not
strange that one pc rson lies this morning
cold in death. Wednesday night nine
tramps slept at the rolling mill aud when
they left that part Of town yesterday morn
ing they scattered through the town pick.
ing up odd pennies and provisions where.
ever they could. Several of them played
the soap game; having bought ordinary
soap they cut 1t IN small cakes, wrapped 1t
In paper and sold 1t as. soap to take out
grease spots" On this they realized near.
ly two dollars. Later in the day they met
near the engine house and here was where
the fracas took place.
The whole crowd was IN such drunken
condition that the stories told by them last
night could scarcely be relied on. At about
half-past FIVE two Of the party came up in.
to town hunting for Justice of the Peace,
and finding Squire Jacoby the revolver
that did the murderous work was handed
over and William McCue gave himself up
as the confessed murderer Of Thomas Bren.
nan. Constable McHenry was at once
sent after the remainder OF the party and
succeeded shortly afterward In bringing In
John Lynott. The testimony of Francis
Ganley Zone of the tramps from Towanda,
was to the effect that the party had me-
near the engine house and were raising
money among themselves to get liquor
The little fellow-Wm. Everhart--had bu
20 cents to show for his days work ant
some one OF the crowd picked up Ever
harts soap box and threw it into the cana
fracas and William McCue drew a revolver
to quiet them. Ganley said Boys, take i
away from him; it isn't loaded" The at
tempt was accordingly made, but McCu'
opened fire and one of the party-Thoma
Brennan of Pottsville--received shot il
the neck, fired at such short range that hi
clothing was scorched. Brennan dropped
In his tracks and probably expired Instant
ly. The others retreated, and McCu,
claims that he also shot one Of the others
The revolver was 3S-calibre, and con
tanned two cartridges when ii was handed
over to the Squire. McCues story is tina
some of the party attempted u commi
sodomy on the person of Everhart, and il
protecting him from this inhuman act th
fracas was brought on and the murder wa
committed McCue made no concealmen
Of the part he took in the shooting and eS
onerated all others from any blame what
ever. By the testimony il appeared tina
the affray took place below the engin
house and hence would have been in Col
umbia county, therefore Squire Jacob
committed them to the Columbia count
jail but later in the evening it was foun
that the case belonged to Luzerne county
Squire Evans held the inquest, the iur
finding that Thomas Brennan came to hi
death at the hands of VIM. McCue. 'Squir
Jacoby handed over all his papers in tn
case to Squire Evans and the men wer
then committed to the Luzerne county jai
where they were taken this morning.
The dead man was about twenty-eigl
or thirty years old, puddler by trade. an
worked awhile in the rolling mill at thi
place some nine years ago. McCue
: about the same age, and is said to belon
to respectable ia mily in Pittston.